August 2025 Book Blogger Posts Round Up

A collection of blog posts by book bloggers

Welcome to another Book Bloggers Round Up post! Let's see what book bloggers posted about during August.

I introduced this feature here on the blog in May 2021 to showcase blog posts by other book bloggers and as it continues to be a popular series I've decided to continue again this year too. 

Each month I'll include a wide variety of content so there's something for everyone. You'll find book reviews, interviews, discussion pieces and more...

So if you're looking for new bookish content to read and/or want to discover some new book bloggers to follow, look no further!

Why I do this feature: 

Scanning through various social media feeds to find suitable content can take up valuable time and so I figured I'd make it easier and put together a collection here on the blog.

It's also a way for me to highlight some of the other great book bloggers out there and help promote books and reading at the same time. 

How it works:

Each month I do a post via my Twitter, where I offer the opportunity for book bloggers to submit posts published during that month for inclusion in this round up. I do this every month.

Want to be included in future round ups? Follow my Twitter profile and keep an eye out for the submission tweet.

August 2025 Book Blogger Round Up

In case you missed it, don't forget to check out the July Round Up for even more great bookish posts by different book bloggers. 

Books: First Lines Fridays 29th August 2025

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines? 

• Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page 
• Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first 
• Finally… reveal the book!

My Pick For This Week

The first lines of the book:

If there is anything unusual on Pequod Street, a disturbance in the night that suggests impending loss or change, a disruption or a dislocation, Clary Hale’s fatherless children are sleeping too profoundly to hear it. These three would stand out as Clary’s anywhere; they have the same black brushstrokes for eyebrows as their mother, those same thick lashes scoring translucent cheeks, the same brilliant, stubborn faces. They are not laid-back civilian kids, they are Navy juniors, but asleep like this, they could be anybody.

And the book is...

Book synopsis for Gone by Kit Craig

When fifteen-year-old Michael Hale wakes up and finds his mother is missing, he immediately knows something is wrong.

His older sister says he’s overreacting. His baby brother is too young to know what’s going on.

But as the day comes to an end and their mother still does not return, it’s clear that Michael is right.

Beautiful, loving Clary Hale is gone…

Where to find Gone by Kit Craig online: 

 

Gone Amazon affiliate link

Gone on Goodreads

Book Spotlight: The Solomon Project by Randy Swank

Today I'm part of a virtual book tour organised by The Write Reads for The Solomon Project by Randy Swank. The tour for ‘The Solomon Project' will run from 25th - 29th August 2025. 

Interested in featuring your book? You can book a Book Spotlight post to showcase your work to my readers.

Disclosure: The FTC Disclosure Provision is a law that requires influencers to disclose when they are being paid to promote a product or service. So please know that if I'm not making money through affiliate links/sponsored content on the post you're currently reading, it's an oversight on my part and will be corrected soon. Read the full disclosure about all the legal stuff here.

You might also like: The Ultimate Guide for Book Bloggers

Genre: Science Fiction, Technothriller 

Age Category: Adult

Number of Pages: 326 Pages

Publication Date: September 9, 2025

New to virtual book tours? Check out my book Virtual Book Tours: Effective Online Book Promotion From The Comfort Of Your Own Home.

Book synopsis for The Solomon Project by Randy Swank

Jack, Adam and Heather open a box made from the Tree of Knowledge and discover a powerful truth that can save us from Oblivion.

Jack believes we must focus on fixing our emotional and mental health, and fast. From mind-interrupting chemicals to emotional instability, bad parenting, and a broken education system; time has come to make this our top priority. “We’re not prepared for the technology we are creating. We must build the Solomon Project, before it’s too late.”

But Jack’s foster brother, Adam Lawson, now President of the United States, offers a different solution. Instead of fixing society, he builds The Wall—banishing society’s worst offenders beyond it.

Murderers and rapists first...and then, others. Adam has an agenda of his own – to test humanity’s sanity, cruelty - their right to continue to exist at all.

As the debate comes to an epic showdown, people begin to suspect something terrible: that their popular and beloved president may be a psychopath—with a terrible secret.

The choice will be ours. And time is running out.

Where to find The Solomon Project by Randy Swank online: 

 

Solomon Project Amazon affiliate link

Solomon Project on Goodreads

An e-reader is brilliant for carrying multiple books while travelling or commuting.

About the author, Randy Swank

Randy Swank is an economist and businessman with 40 years of experience spanning business, academia, government service and behavioral health. Throughout his personal and professional life, he witnessed the destructive effects of addiction, emotional disorder, and trauma, which inspired him to write The Solomon Project. People close to him would reach out to professionals for help, only to discover that they were left to figure it out on their own. It has cost the hopes and lives of many, including the life of his best friend.His debut novel weaves together social commentary, speculative fiction, and psychological insight to deliver a powerful message about the future of humanity-and a perilous choice we will soon face.

Randy has worked across sectors — building businesses, advising public agencies, teaching, and supporting behavioral health initiatives. The concerns that drive his fiction are drawn from years of observing how social systems, untreated trauma, and addictive patterns shape individuals and communities.

When he’s not writing, Randy enjoys reading widely, researching social policy, and speaking about mental health, resilience, and the ethical implications of emerging technologies.

You might also like: 101 Blog Post Ideas For Book Bloggers

You might also like: Book Spotlight: Choices Meant for Gods by Sandy Lender

If you'd like to support me, donating goes a long way to helping with the running of this blog. Thanks for your support 💗

Donate now

Quotes That Make Clean Eating Feel Empowering, Not Restrictive

This week, I’m preparing for a colonoscopy – never a particularly fun sentence to write. On top of that, in recent months I've had to commit to a strict diet due to ongoing chronic health conditions. Clean eating isn’t just a phase or a lifestyle choice anymore; it’s become a necessity. And to be honest, I’m still adjusting.

There are moments when it feels like everything I can’t have is staring me in the face — and even more so during weeks like this, when the list of off-limits foods is even longer than usual. But I’m learning (slowly) to reframe the way I think about food. Instead of seeing it as a list of restrictions, I’m trying to see nourishment, care, and strength in every meal I can eat.

You might also like: Daily Health Quotes That Inspire Smarter Lifestyle Choices

So, for anyone else navigating health-related dietary changes – whether temporary or permanent – here are some quotes that help clean eating feel more empowering than limiting. Words that remind me this is about supporting my body, not punishing it.

“Every bite is a step towards healing.”

A gentle reminder that food can be medicine. When you’re facing chronic conditions, every meal becomes an opportunity to support your body and give it what it truly needs. It's not about deprivation – it's about intention.

“Don't focus on what you're removing. Focus on what you're making space for.”

Instead of mourning what's gone, try to notice what’s appearing: better digestion, clearer skin, more energy, fewer flare-ups. Shifting your focus in this way can be powerful – especially during tough weeks.

“You are not missing out. You are tuning in.”

This one’s especially comforting when everyone around you is tucking into something you can’t eat. Clean eating is a chance to listen to your body and honour its needs – and that’s something to be proud of, not embarrassed by.

“Nourish to flourish.”

Short, sweet, and strong. Eating clean is an act of care. You’re not punishing your body – you’re giving it the best possible tools to thrive.

“You can still find joy in a bowl of soup.”

This week, my meals are very… beige. Broths, clear juices, and plain rice are on the menu. But there’s a quiet joy in those simple things – warmth, comfort, ease. And when you’re not feeling your best, those things matter more than flavour fireworks.

“Wellness isn’t always glamorous – sometimes it’s choosing what you need over what you want.”

Clean eating isn’t about pretty smoothie bowls and aesthetic plates – especially when you're dealing with medical realities. Sometimes, it’s just about getting through the day in the best way for your body.

“You’re not being ‘fussy’ – you’re being brave.”

Advocating for your dietary needs can feel awkward or isolating, especially in social situations. But it takes courage to speak up for your health, and that’s something to celebrate.

Changing your relationship with food – especially under medical pressure – is hard. It’s okay to grieve the old way of eating, and it’s okay if some days feel frustrating. But there is strength in choosing to nourish your body, even when it’s difficult. Especially when it’s difficult.

So this week, while I sip on broth and count down to my procedure, I’ll be holding on to these words. And if you're on a similar path – I hope they help you feel a little more empowered, too.

You might also like: 15 Fitness Quotes to Get You Off the Couch and Into Action